Damion Hahn was first choice not Ashnault

RUSpider

Freshman
Sep 14, 2017
70
63
13
Goodale was told by the athletic department that the woeful performance at NCAA's this year was unacceptable and that changes had to be made. To that end, Mytych was forced out (instead of Pollard). Damion Hahn was contacted regarding the head assistant position with Rutgers. Hahn would only agree to take the position if he was assured the head coaching position when Goodale's contract expires. Rutgers would not give Hahn that guarantee. Fortunately, Rutgers was able to pay Ashnault enough to poach him from Princeton.

Goodale is on borrowed time.
 

Dakpawknight

Freshman
Jan 19, 2023
33
65
18
Goodale was told by the athletic department that the woeful performance at NCAA's this year was unacceptable and that changes had to be made. To that end, Mytych was forced out (instead of Pollard). Damion Hahn was contacted regarding the head assistant position with Rutgers. Hahn would only agree to take the position if he was assured the head coaching position when Goodale's contract expires. Rutgers would not give Hahn that guarantee. Fortunately, Rutgers was able to pay Ashnault enough to poach him from Princeton.

Goodale is on borrowed time.
I could see Ashnault in an associate HC role and being the HC in a few years.
 

LETSGORU91

Senior
Jul 9, 2025
447
458
63
Interesting and a very detailed summary of the events. How reliable are your sources? And if true, we might have punted the one and only opportunity to land Hahn here. Sounds like Zinn is behind the wrestling program. I like it.
 

JudgeSmails56

All-American
Dec 1, 2019
4,635
6,756
113
Goodale was told by the athletic department that the woeful performance at NCAA's this year was unacceptable and that changes had to be made. To that end, Mytych was forced out (instead of Pollard). Damion Hahn was contacted regarding the head assistant position with Rutgers. Hahn would only agree to take the position if he was assured the head coaching position when Goodale's contract expires. Rutgers would not give Hahn that guarantee. Fortunately, Rutgers was able to pay Ashnault enough to poach him from Princeton.

Goodale is on borrowed time.
Hahn would've been a home run. I'm happy with Ash returning, but Pollard needs to go to.
 

JudgeSmails56

All-American
Dec 1, 2019
4,635
6,756
113
Goodale did a great job bringing the program back from the dead, but clearly his time is about up. We did well when he had Donny as an assistant and it obviously fell apart when he left. Get a big name coach and this can be a legit top ten program with all the talent in the area.
 

Kiddagger311

Senior
Sep 17, 2025
691
427
63
Goodale did a great job bringing the program back from the dead, but clearly his time is about up. We did well when he had Donny as an assistant and it obviously fell apart when he left. Get a big name coach and this can be a legit top ten program with all the talent in the area.
Don’t worry Goodale supporters will come storming in soon. Personally, I like Goodale, I want him to succeed but the last 3/4 years has got to even have the Goodale diehards questioning if he got what it takes to get it done in March. Let’s start with being a legit top 20 program first, and qualify for the paycom invitational, before we start shooting for perrenial top 10.. baby steps..
 

NJwrestling26

Senior
Oct 16, 2025
611
850
93
I dont see how that promise to Hahn would not be written in his contract.
That seems like a NO brainer to me.

I am happy with Ashnault, but Hahn is the dream
it could possibly be that’s not allowed at Rutgers , I know Oklahoma state had that issue , everyone though Coleman was promised to be the coach in waiting but ok state doesn’t allow for coach in waiting in any sport bc they are a state school they are legally required to interview for open for positions
 

Barrellroll

Freshman
Dec 9, 2025
90
83
18
It is not about liking Goodale. He is a good guy and can excite the fans. It is about winnng in March and All Americans. Since Donny left we finished out of the top 30 with no All Americans. 2019 gave us hope and excitement with a 9th place finish and 2 All Americans. It’s all been down hill since then.

Ashnault is a step forward. What does Pollard add? Does he develop the recruits? Ashnault coached the national runner up at Princeton and helped recruit some ranked kids. Goodale said Mytych was our best recruiter responsible for most of the recent Pa. recruits. Now he is no longer here. This will be Labs third year coaching so hopefully he can develop an AA or attract top recruits.
 

RUSpider

Freshman
Sep 14, 2017
70
63
13
Interesting and a very detailed summary of the events. How reliable are your sources? And if true, we might have punted the one and only opportunity to land Hahn here. Sounds like Zinn is behind the wrestling program. I like it.
My source is very reliable. Admittedly, I am not a fan of Goodale as coach. I do not think he is a B10 level coach. However, I appreciate that Goodale had a large role in bringing the program to respectability. The point is that I love Rutgers and Rutgers wrestling I would not come on here and post BS.
 

koleszar

Heisman
Jan 1, 2010
37,343
58,670
113
Goodale was told by the athletic department that the woeful performance at NCAA's this year was unacceptable and that changes had to be made. To that end, Mytych was forced out (instead of Pollard).

Goodale is on borrowed time.
Why not both? If this is some type of twisted loyalty to a fault deal, then I withdraw my statement of being fine with Goodale being a figure head as head coach. He needs top notch assistants to roll around and teach the guys. Not Mr. I started for Rider 3yrs. no matter how nice of a guy he is. Go become the head coach at College of New Jersey.
 
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SCNJ

All-American
Oct 12, 2019
4,460
5,864
48
I dont see how that promise to Hahn would not be written in his contract.
That seems like a NO brainer to me.

I am happy with Ashnault, but Hahn is the dream
If you’re going to write that into a contract then you’re better off just firing the head coach now which admin clearly doesn’t want to do. You can’t have a program run efficiently where the head coach knows his time is running out and his replacement is on staff.
 

RULoyal

Heisman
Jul 28, 2001
15,475
18,666
113
it could possibly be that’s not allowed at Rutgers , I know Oklahoma state had that issue , everyone though Coleman was promised to be the coach in waiting but ok state doesn’t allow for coach in waiting in any sport bc they are a state school they are legally required to interview for open for positions
Probably correct. The assistant RU job opening is currently posted on the web. I would assume a head coach opening would also need to be posted. You probably leave yourself open to a few legal problems if you post a job opening you have already contractually promised to someone.
 

RUAldo

All-Conference
Sep 11, 2008
4,943
3,524
113
If you’re going to write that into a contract then you’re better off just firing the head coach now which admin clearly doesn’t want to do. You can’t have a program run efficiently where the head coach knows his time is running out and his replacement is on staff.
I tend to disagree unless SG isn’t onboard with the transition plan. SG knows he’s done a crappy job last few years. Numbers don’t lie. He can’t honestly believe his contract will be renewed.
 

Leonard23

Heisman
Feb 2, 2006
30,078
12,313
113
Why hasn't Hahn had better opportunities than SDSU? Or has he turned them down? No good opportunities available? I don't recall him being mentioned or courted for other jobs, yet he's highly accomplished as a wrestler and coach. He was an assistant at Cornell for 12+ years and now head coach at SDSU for 8 years.
 

SCNJ

All-American
Oct 12, 2019
4,460
5,864
48
I tend to disagree unless SG isn’t onboard with the transition plan. SG knows he’s done a crappy job last few years. Numbers don’t lie. He can’t honestly believe his contract will be renewed.
What coach is gonna be content with being told they’re not being renewed?
 

RUTruther

Redshirt
Apr 16, 2026
1
1
0
Sounds like someone was fed information in the form of the elementary game "telephone."
Partial truths to Spider's story but this message was clearly misconstrued at some point down the line. Those trying to put that message out may just want to accept the nature of the business and move on.

P.S.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news to the few of you, but SG is certainly not on borrowed time. Just take a deep breath and enjoy the ride.

Sincerely,
Your newest insider.
 

LETSGORU91

Senior
Jul 9, 2025
447
458
63
My source is very reliable. Admittedly, I am not a fan of Goodale as coach. I do not think he is a B10 level coach. However, I appreciate that Goodale had a large role in bringing the program to respectability. The point is that I love Rutgers and Rutgers wrestling I would not come on here and post BS.
I never made any opinion on whether or not it was BS. Just trying to get some better insight to what you posted.
Sounds like someone was fed information in the form of the elementary game "telephone."
Partial truths to Spider's story but this message was clearly misconstrued at some point down the line. Those trying to put that message out may just want to accept the nature of the business and move on.

P.S.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news to the few of you, but SG is certainly not on borrowed time. Just take a deep breath and enjoy the ride.

Sincerely,
Your newest insider.
Veryi interesting. Welcome to the board. Where did you come from?